Night and day; Angels: Day 343

The life of the believer is like day compared to the life of the unbeliever, says St. Augustine. But it’s like night compared to the enlightenment of the angels. That brilliant day is what we have to look forward to at the Resurrection.

“In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying” (Ps. 77:2).

We shouldn’t think “trouble” means some particular kind of thing. Anyone who has not yet made the leap doesn’t think that’s a “trouble,” unless some sad thing has happened in this life. But the one who makes the leap sees this whole life as his “trouble.”

The life of believers is day—night and day, really: day compared to the life of unbelievers, night compared to the angels. The angels have a day we haven’t experienced yet. We already have a day the unbelievers don’t have, but believers don’t yet have the day that angels have. But they will have it, when they are equal to the angels of God—which is what’s been promised to them at the Resurrection (Matt. 22:30).

So in this day or night—night compared to the future day we long for, day compared to the past night that we’ve renounced—let us stretch out our hands to seek God. Don’t let works come to a stop. Let us seek God—let there be no idle longing. If we’re on the way, let’s use everything we have to reach the end. –St. Augustine, Exposition on Psalm 77, 1

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Do I see my earthly life by the spiritual light God has given me—the light of the holy angels?

CLOSING PRAYER

Holy  God, you have given us light through the ministry  of  your angels. Help us to know them as messengers, guides, and revealers of your truth.

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